Colombia's outgoing government warns of possible "acts of terrorism" during president-elect's inauguration

Colombia's outgoing government has issued a warning about potential "acts of terrorism" during the upcoming inauguration ceremony for President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Cali, a city in the Valle del Cauca department.

The alert is being issued against a backdrop of heightened tension in southwestern Colombia, fueled by recent activities of illegal armed groups. The outgoing Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, confirmed the latent risk to institutional events, stating that criminal organizations in the region aim to disrupt the democratic event through violent actions. Cali's proximity to areas influenced by guerrilla groups makes it a focal point for these concerns.

President-elect De la Espriella, who won the election in June on a platform of combating drug trafficking with U.S. military support, had initially planned the inauguration in Cauca, an area known for FARC dissident activity. However, the location was changed to Cali due to climatic factors, according to reports.

In response to the security threats, authorities have activated a special protection detail. This includes the deployment of 11,000 military and police personnel in Cali and surrounding municipalities. Additionally, a prohibition on unmanned aircraft, commonly used by irregular groups to launch explosives, has been decreed. The security measures also cover the arrival of confirmed international delegations, including Spain's King Felipe VI and the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Ecuador.